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OECTA President Responds to GSN Announcement

TORONTO, March 26, 2015 /CNW/ - Today, the Ministry of Education has announced the Grants for Student Needs (GSNs). Education Minister Liz Sandals claims education funding will remain stable for the 2015-16 school year, but the reality is that there will be less money available to meet student needs due to inflation.

Despite assurances from the Minister that school boards must insulate the classroom from cutbacks, boards continue to target teachers and program delivery, while protecting costly and unnecessary administration. Meanwhile, the Ministry remains committed to cutting $500 million from the education sector in 2015-16.

"I challenge the Minister to make school boards adhere to her direction and to improve student programming," says OECTA President, James Ryan. "The Ministry and school boards need to focus on improving student learning-conditions, rather than building administrative empires and wasting money on excessive testing."

OECTA represents the almost 50,000 professional women and men who teach all grades in publicly funded English Catholic schools in Ontario.